If a rider hasn’t got transport in the form of a car or van using the train is an excellent way to travel around Taiwan with a bike. The system isn’t perfect and it can involve a learning process to understand how Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) or the Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR) networks operate.
Hopefully, the following article will help you to navigate the process.
The HSR which travels between Taipei and Kaohsiung is very straightforward. All bikes must be bagged or at least covered. The baggage compartment isn’t large enough to place a bike, but if the front wheel is removed and strapped to the side of the frame it will fit behind the last seat in the carriage.
The TRA network is much more extensive and covers most of the coastline. There are also 4 narrow-gauge lines that travel into the interior.
At the following link, the process is explained quite clearly: Matthew Bike
I would advise travelers with bikes to go to the train station the day before departure to check the train status or availability of bike placement.
Online, the TRA website is easy to navigate. Once the rider has checked the timetable, be sure to check the details of each train to see if bikes can be taken on. This is marked with a green bicycle symbol. In this case, where the bike can be wheeled onto the train a ticket must be purchased for the bike which is half the passenger fare.
By far the easiest way to go is on the new ‘Fast Local Trains’. These have been fitted with bike placement holders in the carriage, so the bike is beside you all the way.
Primarily there are 5 kinds of TRA trains which are:
Puyuma and Tzchiang intercity express trains. These do not stop at smaller rural stations.
Bikes must be bagged or at least covered completely with at least the front wheel off and strapped to the side. If you are in need of a quick solution, even the 7-11 black trash bags will work, not the best sight, but this method will get you on the train. This is my last resort solution if forced to take the train due to foul weather or an emergency.
The other three main kinds of trains are Juguang and Chujian (local) and Fast local.
These stop at more stations, therefore are much slower than the intercity trains. Although not all trains have bike placement areas there are far more options available for where the rider can get on and off.
The pictures in this post are self-explanatory. The photo below shows the carriage with full bike racks that can be booked 3 days in advance.
The rider must also be aware that there may not be spaces available on weekends or during holidays.
Buses:
Intercity buses with a large cargo hold will allow bikes on provided it’s not already full of luggage. No bag is necessary and the cost is half a passenger fare. I have used the yellow Giant bag to transport my bikes on various buses in Taipei. The driver will open the cargo section of the bus and allow you to put the bike into the bus without any fuss. I have never had any issues using a highway bus to transport a bike. I have never used a bus to transport a short distance, I would rather ride a bike.
Here is a short video of my packing method. Here is the 3-minute video.